Speed controlled centrifugal valve



I Aug. 2, 1949. o. E. HINTZ, JR

SPEED CONTROLLED CEHITRIFUGAL VALVE Filed Sept. 28, 1946 Rum;

Patented Aug. 2, 1 949 SPEED CONTROLLED CENTRIFUGAL VALVE Otto E. Hintz, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 28, 1940, Serial No. 700,014

'- This invention relates to a centrifugal separator, and particularly to a centrifugal separator for separating whole milk. More specifically, it relatesto a self-washing cream separating bowl having an improved valve means for regulating the discharge of a washing medium from said bowl.

I In the application of William H. Harstick for Centrifugal separator, "filed June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,865, now Patent No. 2,473,948, a selfwashing cream separating bowl is disclosed. This separating bowl generally includes a substantially continuous peripheral discharge opening for discharging washing fluid supplied to the separating bowl. A valve ring is provided within the bowl and is coextensive with the discharge opening, the valve ring being adapted to expand upon the action of centrifugal force to seal the discharge opening at a predetermined high separating speed. A coil spring is embedded within the valve ring and at lower speeds retracts the ring from the discharge opening, thereby permitting the washing fluid, which is poured into the bowl, to be discharged and thereby flush the same.

In bowls of this type it is desirable to achieve a high flushing speed, and in order toaccomplish this result, it is desirable to have a valve that will not have any substantial movement or sealing action until a high speed of rotation of the bowl is obtained. It is necessary therefore to provide a spring controlled valve which will resist elongation or. expansion until such a relatively high.

rotating speed is reached. The type of coil spring utilized must be light in weight and fairly stiff so that the total weight of the bowl may be retained.-

at a minimum. An extremely heavy spring would not be adequate since the increased weight and consequent greater centrifugal force would more than offset the advantage of greater stiffness afforded by such heavier construction. Also, because of size limitations, due'to the compact design of the bowl, it is desirable that a spring of this type be relatively small in cross-section. Therefore, itis clear that in order to provide a satisfactory spring which has a relatively short elongation with respect to the force required to expand the same, the size of the spring cannot be materially increased. stiffening of the spring is also not adequate since difiiculty inthe assembling of the bowl parts with the spring is thereby increased. 7

It is the prime object of this invention to provide an improved circular coiled spring construction of the type generally placed in tension by the action of centrifugal force resulting from high speed rotation of said spring, said spring construction including an expander effective to retain said coil spring in a partially expanded position or state of initial tension, thereby restricting any substantialelongation of said spring until a 8 Claims. (01. 137140) predetermined desired speed of rotation is obtained.

It is another object of this invention therefore to provide an improved centrifugally operable valve construction for a cream separating bowl of the self-flushing type; said bowl comprising a peincluding a coil spring embedded in the ring and having a split ring extending circumferentially through the coils of said spring for retaining the same in a partially expanded or tensional position during certain speeds of rotation of the separating bowl.

It is another object to provide a resilient valve ring for sealing the discharge opening of a self- Washing cream separator, said valve ring including a coil spring of relatively light construction having an expanding ring associated therewith for retaining said spring in a partially expanded state during the flushing speed of said bowl, said coil spring being further expansible upon high speeds of rotation generally used when separatmg.

It is still a further object to provide an improved centrifugal valve ring for a self-washing cream separating bowl having a peripheral discharge opening, said valve ring being sufficiently flexible topermit quick and easy assembly, yet

having a sufliciently high initial tension to re-' quire substantial centrifugal force before expansion in the ring takes place.

Other objects will become more readily apparcut as the description proceeds when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in'

which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a. cream separating bowl having portions broken away to disclose pertinent parts of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the cream separating bowl taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of a valve ring for sealing the discharge opening of the cream separating :bowl.

Referring to the drawings, a cream separating bowl is generally indicated by the reference character ill. The cream separating bowl Ill includes an upper bowl portion l l and a lower bowl portion l2. "The upper bowl portion H is provided with an inner-sloping surface 13 and the lower portion of the bowl is provided with an inher sloping surface I4. The lower bowl portion I2 has an upwardly extending annular portion I5 which converges with the upper bowl portion I I at a maximum internal periphery as indicated at I5. A substantially continuous annular discharge opening I6 is provided at this maximum periphery, the discharge opening lfi being interrupted only by a plurality of projections or spacer members I! integrally formed with the lower bowl portion I2. A clamping ring I8 is threaded on the upwardly extending annular portion I5 and suitably engages the upper bowl portion II to rigidly clamp the portions together. The clamping ring I8 is also provided with a substantially continuous discharge opening I9 in alinement with the discharge opening I6; The discharge opening I9 is formed with a plurality of connecting projections 29, as best indicated in Fig. 2. The projections l1 and are diverging in shape and primarily serve as spacer elements, the discharge openings IB- and 19 being substantially free and continuous. The number of these projections or spacers ma vary, it being desirable, or course, to provide as few as possible so that a substantially uninterrupted discharge opening is provided.

The upper bowl. portion H is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending wings 2I which suitably support a disk pack 22 consisting of a plurality of separating disks 23. The inner peripheries of the separating disks 23 form a cylindrical space generally indicated at 24. Centrally positioned within the space 24 is an inlet tube 25 in communication with a distributing chamber 28, said distributing chamber 26 being in communication with a milk passage 21 formed by aligned openings in the separating disks 23,

A centrifugally operable valve member or regulating means for the discharge openings I6 and I9 is provided in the form of an annular expansible ring 28. The ring 28 is preferably made of a resilient or deformable material, such as rubber or neoprene. and normally lies adjacent to and inwardly of the discharge openings l6 and I9 formed at the maximum internal periphery of the bowl I0. The ring is coextensive with said discharge openings. A coil spring or annular resilient metallic element 29 is embedded within the ring 28 and is coextensive and extensible therewith. Circumferentially extending through the spring 29 is a split or expanding ring 30 made of a suitable metal. or spring-like material. The split ring 30 is provided with end portions 3| which, as indicated in Fig. 2, are normally in abutment with one another. The ring 30 is of larger diameter than the coil spring 29 in its normal unexpanded position, and since the split ring 30 is circumferentially extended throughout the coil spring it has the effect of partially expanding said coil spring or holding the same in a state of initial tension. The valve ring -28 is positioned within slots 32 formed in the down wardly projecting wings 2 I.

A supply nozzle, generall indicated by the reference character 33, is positioned axially above the milk inlet tube and is connected to a supply can, not shown. The nozzle 33 includes a milk feed conduit 34 and a Washing liquid supply conduit 35.

A skim milk outlet 36 of conventional design is formed at the upper end of the upper bowl portion I I. A cream outlet 37 in communication with the annular space 24 is formed in the lower bowl portion l2.

Means for receiving the discharged skim milk and cream is generally indicated by the reference character 38. This means includes a skim milk receiving chamber 39 in communication with a skim milk spout 40. A cream receiving chamber 4I is in communication with a cream spout 42. The bowl I0 is generally driven by means of a driving member 43 keyed to the lower bowl portion I2. The driving member 43 is suitably connected to a manual drive shaft or power 10 means, not shown.

Since the split ring 30 is of larger diameter than the normal retracted position of the coil spring 29, the coil spring is thereby placed in a state of initial tension or partial expansion and the end portions 3I, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. of the split ring 30 are in abutment with one another. When it is desired to separate whole milk, the bowl is placed in operation by rotating the same. The valve ring 28 remains in the position shown in Fig. 1 until a substantially high; separating speed is reached. The initial tension of the spring action by the split ring 30 is sufficient to resist elongation until .a high centrifugal force is effective by means of the extremely high separating speed. When the speed is attained the split ring 30 is no longer effective and continued elongation or expansion of the coil spring 29 takes place, thereby resulting in expansion of the deformable ring for sealing the discharge openings- I 6 and I9. Whole milk is thereupon supplied to the separating bowl and separating is effected in a conventional manner. After the separating operation is completed and it is desired to flu h or wash the bowl, washing water is poured through the conduits 34 and 35 into the inlet tube 25 and into the space 24 of th separating bowl Ill. The speed of rotation of the separating bowl is thereupon lowered and contraction of the valve ring 28 takes place. The valve ring 28 contracts to its initial tension or partially expanded position and the washing liquid is free to be flushed from the separating bowl. It can thus be seen that a suitable valve ring is provided which will be eiTective to resist the centrifugal force until a substantially high separating speed is attained and flushing may take place at a relatively high speed of rotation. Upon determining the desired separating speed, the amount of initial tension of the coil spring 29 can be predetermined by means of the diameter of the split ring 30. Thus in effect an efiicient and strong valve spring is provided Without the necessity of utilizing an extremely heavy spring which would be undesirable in view of the weight and space limitations of the separating bowl.

It is thus readily apparent that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and it is to be understood that changes may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular expansible sealing member of rubber-like material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and inwardly from a discharge opening, an annular spring connected to and extending substantially throughout the length of said sealing member, a split ring enclosed within and coextensive with the spring for maintaining the same in a partially expanded position, and means for rotating said sealing member, said sealing member being constructed and arranged to expand radially outwardly in response to centrifugal force for engaging and sealing the discharge opening.

2. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular resilient sealing member of rubber-like material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and inwardly from a discharge opening, a coiled spring embedded in said sealing member and extending substantially throughout the length of said member, a metallic split ring enclosed within said sealing element and substantially coextensive therewith, and means for rotating said sealing element about its own axis, said split ring beh'ig constructed and arranged to maintain said coil spring in a partially expanded position during one speed of rotation of said sealing element, said spring and said sealing element being expansible by centrifugal force during a second speed of rotation, said sealing element thereby engaging and sealing said discharge opening.

3. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular expansible sealing member of rubber-like material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and inwardly from a discharge opening, a metallic expansible resilient element embedded in said sealing member and extending substantially throughout the length of said member, a metallic split ring enclosed within said sealing element and substantially coextensive therewith, and means for rotating said sealing element about its own axis, said split ring being constructed and arranged to maintain said metallic resilient member in a partially expanded position during one speed of rotation of said sealing element, said sealing element being expansible by centrifugal forceduring a second speed of rotation whereby said sealing element engages and seals the discharge opening.

4. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular expansible sealing member of rubber-like material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and inwardly from an annular opening, an expansible resilient element embedded in said sealing member and extending substantially throughout the length of said member, a metallic split ring enclosed within said sealing element and substantially coextensive therewith, and means for rotating said sealing element about its own axis, said split ring being constructed and arranged to maintain said metallic resilient member in a partially expanded tensional position during one speed of rotation of said sealing element, said sealing element and said expansible resilient member being expansible by centrifugal force during a second speed of rotation whereby said sealing element engages and seals the discharge opening.

5. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular expansible member of rubberlike material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and coextensive with an annular discharge opening, an annular spring connected to and extending substantially throughout the length of said expansible sealing member, a split ring enclosed within said annular spring, and means for rotating said valve member, said split ring being constructed and arranged to maintain said spring in a partially expanded position during one speed of rotation of the valve member, said sealing element being expansible by centrifugal force during a second speed of rotation whereby said sealing element engages and seals the discharge opening.

6. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular expansible member of rubber-like material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned adjacent to and coextensive with a discharge opening, an annular spring connected to and extending substantially throughout the length of said expansible sealing member, a split ring engaging said annular spring, and means for rotating said valve member, said split ring being constructed and arranged to maintain said spring in a partially expanded tensional position during one speed of rotation of the valve member, said sealing element and said spring being expansible by centrifugal force during a higher speed of rotation whereby said sealing element engages and seals the discharge opening.

7. A centrifugally operable valve member comrising an annular expansible sealing member of rubber-like material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned for rotation adjacent to and inwardly from a discharge opening, an annular spring connected to and extending substantially throughout the length of the sealing element, and a split ring engaging the annular spring substantially throughout its length, said split ring being arranged and constructed for maintaining said spring in a partially expanded position during one speed of rotation of said sealing element, said sealing element and said spring being expansible by centrifugal force for engaging and sealing the discharge opening.

8. A centrifugally operable valve member comprising an annular expansible sealing member of rubber-like material, said sealing member being adapted to be positioned for rotation adjacent to and inwardly from a discharge open-ing, an annular coil spring connected to and extending substantially throughout the length of the sealing element, and a split metal ring of larger diameter than the normal unexpanded diameter of the spring, said split ring engaging said spring substantially throughout the length thereof to maintain the same in a partially expanded position, said spring and said sealing element being constructed and arranged to expand radially in response to centrifugal force whereby said sealing element engages and seals the discharge opening.

OTTO E. HINTZ, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 439,173 Newberg et al Oct. 28, 1890 1,228,429 Griffln et a1 June 5, 1916 1,483,484 Rubert Feb. 12, 1924 1,610,770 Green Dec. 14, 1926 1,751,982 Dunham -1 Mar. 25, 1930 2,173,580 Fawcett Sept. 19, 1939 2,173,547 Bjornstjerna Nov. 7, 1939 2,253,647 Persoons Aug. 26, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,115 Great Britain Nov. 11, 1912 576,524 Germany May 11, 1933 630,363 Germany May 26, 1936 20,139 Sweden Feb. 16, 1904 

